22:11 - Hex_Omegaflight, change your title from 'Stamp Tramp' to 'Master Of The Lists'. 15 lists in 4 months, lol

22:02 - mzyeah Neachy. I've been so out of the metal globe for 2.5 months and have checked only 4 albums: Eerie( 2014), that black metal album with red cover form Iceland, desolate shrine and Abyssal Gods. All of them are very good :D

It's unusual to find atmospheric black metal bands coming from Indonesia, but Vallendusk, coming from Jakarta, succeeded in introducing themselves with a very good album. Black Clouds Gathering is their debut after releasing their first EP called Vallendusk in 2012.

The album has a great start with "Fragments Of Light" and a great ending with "Land Of The Lurking Twilight". One of the features of Black Clouds Gathering is the awesome folk influences, especially in songs like "Fragments Of Light" and "Realms Of The Elder". Great acoustic guitar works followed by great melodies. For those of you who appreciate melodies; the melodies in this album make it lively so that even the non-preferable tracks won't bore you at all. On the contrary, the melodies are the source of strength in this album. The vocals are decent and most of the lyrics talk about nature, and they are suitable for the album's atmosphere. The cover art is decent too; it's neither lame nor creative. It still gives you that awesome feeling where you would like to listen to this album in the winter.

The Indonesian metal scene is more known for its brutal death metal but Vallendusk try and break that mould by showing that the scene has a lot more to offer by serving up some seriously high quality atmospheric black metal. Unlike the majority of atmospheric black metal bands that operate with that more depressive mid-tempo sound, Vallendusk differentiate themselves by employing a faster & more upbeat tempo with undoubted post & folk influences. The standout element of this record is without a doubt the excellent guitar work. Whether it's the melodic hooks or acoustic folk passages, it will grip you throughout.

Black Clouds Gathering consists of 7 tracks with the shortest track being 8 minutes long and is admittedly not the most varied record out there, so it will not suit those with a short attention span. But if epic melody-driven atmospheric black metal is your thing, I seriously suggest you give this a spin.

Flawless production. Excellent sound. Lots of energy, but still very easy to listen to.
There are some definite folk influences in the melodies, but these guys have most likely been inspired by the riffs of other similar bands rather than European folk. Or maybe EU folk is big in Indonesia, what do I know.
Great album in any case. A definite top album of the year.